Biography of Esther - Essay Example

Task Biography of Esther Hello, my is Esther. During the third year reign of King Xerxes who ruled over 120 provinces fromIndia to Ethiopia, he gave a feast for his officials and servants and displayed his riches, glory, and splendor of his majesty for 180 days. At the climax, he made a feast for all the people great to small and he served his nobles drinks in golden vessels. Queen Vashti also made a feast for women in the palace. On the seventh day when the king was merry with wine, he commanded that the queen be brought wearing her royal crown to show her beauty to the people. However, the queen rejected the Kings Command and the king was furious. The king was advised accordingly that the queen’s behavior would make all women in the kingdom to despise their husbands. A royal decree was made and recorded that her royal position be given to another better woman as a lesson to all women and make men masters in their houses. The king was advised that a search be made for young beautiful virgins in the entire kingdom and be given beauty treatment so that the virgin who would please the king most would be made queen instead Vashti. I was living in the kingdom with my uncle Mordecai as exiles from Jerusalem. My uncle had brought me up as his own daughter since I had no father or mother and I was a young woman lovely and beautiful. When the king’s command was heard, I was also taken with many young women to the palace, under the care of Hegai his eunuch who kept his concubines. I pleased Hegai and gained his favor and this made him give me the best beauty preparations. Meanwhile I kept my identity secret because my Uncle advised me so. My Uncle showed concern for me and he visited the women’s quarter daily to find out about my progress. At the time that each young woman’s turn came to go to the king after 12 months of preparation, each woman went to the king in the evening wearing whatever she chose and returned the following morning and would only return to the king if she delighted him until he called her by name. When I went to the king, I only chose what Hegai had advised me to wear. Generally, I obtained favor in all who saw me and I was taken to king Xerxes. The king loved me more than all the other women and I obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the other women. He placed a crown on my head and made me the queen instead of Vashti. The king made a great feast for me for all his officials and servants, and he proclaimed a holiday in all the provinces and gave gifts generously. In the palace, I never disclosed my identity since I obeyed the advice of my uncle. My Uncle later discovered that people were plotting to eliminate the king and he informed me and I told the king about it. The matter was investigated and was found as true. The men were hanged and this was written in the chronicles before the king. After these things, the king promoted Hamah one of his officers and set him above all the princes and all servants who were commanded by the king to bow to Haman. However, Mordecai would not bow to Haman because he was a Jew and this made Harman very angry. He decided to destroy all the Jews in the whole kingdom and he set a date and month for carrying the plan. He sought permission from the king saying that the practices of the Jews were not in the best interest of the king and he promised to enrich the king’s treasury with silver and gold. The king allowed Haman to do with the Jews as he pleased and a decree was made in all the provinces in all languages and it was sealed with the king’s signet ring. The letters were sent to all provinces to destroy, to annihilate all Jews young and old including women and children on the twelfth month. Mordecai leant of this and he tore his clothes, sat in ashes, and cried loud in the city bitterly and he came to the king’s gate but he could not be allowed because of his attire. All Jews cried in all provinces with fasting, wailing and crying. My made and servants told me and I was distressed and I sent him clothes but he refused so I sent a servant to find out what was wrong. He told me of the whole plot and a copy of the decree and instructed me to plead to the king on behalf of my people. I told him of the law of death for violating procedures but he warned me strongly and that my presence in the palace may have been the work of God to save his people. I suggested that we all fast for three days with all the Jews before I could go before the king regardless of the consequences. On the third day, I put my royal robe and went in the inner court of the king’s house while he sat on his royal throne in the royal house. He saw me and I found favor in his eyes so he held his golden scepter to me and he asked me to make my wish even if it was for half his kingdom. I only asked him to come with Haman to the banquet I would prepare for Him. At the banquet, he also asked me again to make a wish but I only asked him to come with Haman to the second banquet at which I would make my wish. Haman while coming from the banquet was annoyed again at the gate that Mordecai did not bow before him and his wife and friend advised him to prepare gallows in his home to hang Mordecai. That night the king could not sleep and he order that the book of history be read to him and from it, he heard of how Mordecai had saved his life. He decided to honor him. When he asked for advice from Haman how to do it, he thought that it was himself to be honored so he advised the king to parade that person to the city square to the people as the one honored by the king. Coincidentally, Herman had come to request the king to allow him hang Mordecai. The king told Herman to parade Mordecai as he had suggested and this made him ashamed. His wife and friends told him that he could succeed against a Jew. At the banquet, the king asked me to make a wish and I pleaded with him to spare my life and that of my people who had been sold to be killed rather than slavery. The king was furious and enquired who was behind it and I told him that it was Haman. Herman was terrified, and the king went out in rage and he was informed instantly that Haman had built gallows to hang Herman. The king ordered his men to hang Herman on it. The king gave me Haman’s house and I introduced Mordecai was my relative and he came to the king. The king gave Mordecai his ring and I begged the king to revoke the order of Haman but it was impossible. The king allowed me and Mordecai to write to all people in the provinces permitting the Jews to gather and to protect their lives and to destroy, kill and annihilate their enemies and to plunder all their property. This made the Jews ready as they rejoiced and feasted and many people became Jews because of fear. When the day came, the Jews overpower their enemies and all officials in the provinces supported Jews so they killed over seventhly five thousand enemies, plus the sons of Herman. The Jews became victorious made a holiday to be celebrated every year. I then wrote a letter about the holiday, Mordecai imposed his authority on it, and he became second to the king and was respected among the people (McCaugrean & Anna). Work Cited McCaughrean, Geraldine & Anna Leplar. God's people: stories from the Old Testament. New York: M.K. McElderry Books, 1997. Read More